Why plural marriages make sense

I am sure that many marriage equality opponents reading this are shouting “I told you so!” as their predictions that plural marriage would follow same-sex marriage come nightmarishly true. Many grew up as I did, in a time and place where the single-wage-earner nuclear family was the unquestioned norm and would like to see their country conform to that unrealistic standard for the rest of history.

But even then, the nuclear family was an uncomfortable fit for many, and an impossible dream for others. The America in which I want my children and grandchildren to live will make room for all kinds of families, and it will offer the same support and benefits — legally, financially and socially — to any family that is based on a core of love, consent and mutual responsibility.

Posted by Zubair Khan
on January 16, 2014. Filed under Americas.
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4 Responses to Why plural marriages make sense

Zubair Khan

January 16, 2014 at 1:06 am

In 1889 in the face of increasing hardships and the threat of government confiscation of Church property, including temples, Wilford Woodruff, President of the Church at the time, prayed for guidance. He was inspired to issue a document that officially ended the sanction of plural marriage by the Church. The document, called the Manifesto, was accepted by Church members in a general conference held in October 1890 and is published in the Doctrine and Covenants as Official Declaration 1 (see also “Excerpts from Three Addresses by President Wilford Woodruff Regarding the Manifesto” following Official Declaration 1).

What a coincidence? Same year, in accordance with the prophecy of prophet of Islam (saw) appeared promised Messiah and Mahdi, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian India, (founder of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community) permitting up to 4 wives provided man can treat them exactly according to the teachings of Holy Quran. Holy Quran is complete and perfect book of God for the whole mankind. Who can know better than the Creator the needs of creation. So knew the God and explained it very clearly in his last revealed book. It makes sense and time is coming when all will accept these sensible commandments of God Almighty.

Can we Muslims learn something from the Mormon polygamists? As we note from ‘sister-wives’ it seems they are living together. My wives hardly see each other; mostly only on Eid prayers, where every one has to be together …

Lutf

January 17, 2014 at 5:27 am

The permission for polygamy is only in certain exceptional circumstances. It is not free for all. The ratio of men and women in any society is about the same. If men married more than one wife on regular basis, this would create serious problems in the society.
Evidence from the Mormons shows that if men regularly marry more than one woman, many problems arise. Younger and less established men are unable to get married. Older men are financially better off and have more influence. They tend to marry younger women which creates problems of its own.
Also one must remember that the purpose of marriage is not to just procreate. Spouses find peace in each other, raise their children properly etc.
One common reason for multiple marriages in older days was excess of women. In tribal living, there was constant war for survival and men were killed frequently in these wars. There used to be excess of women and polygamy worked well. Moreover society was dominated by men.
As with other things the times have changed. Multiple wives is a permission for exceptional circumstances and should not be accepted as norm.

1-When anyone uses the words plural or multiple marriages it means no limit at all.There are other words as well which the verious people use in the same sense-needless mentioning as people know all.
2-In ISLAAM,according to THE QUR-AAN up to 4 women, a man can marry to.In other words a man can have 4 wives at a time, only, if he can treat them all equally in all aspects,it means, morally, financially sexually and else. But, it is also said by Almighty in QUR-AAN ‘BUT YOU CAN’T TREAT THEM ALL EQUALLY,therefore,marry to only one woman to make her your wife,at a time.At this point,tell me where the option having 4 wives at a time has gone? Has it gone with the WIND in the pacific ocean?
3-Even,so called muslims, missiterprete and missuse the QUR-AANIC norms,just turning the eyes away from the fact and decieving themselves, thinking like,I can’t see the cat!but, the cat is always watching you boys! Invite not Almighty’s wrath and revenge. Try not tellig own version why the plural marriages are allowed.Assumptions do not counct in any way.